Disney World: Magic Kingdom

We visited Magic Kingdom again, during regular hours (and on Valentine’s Day).

Train station and train:

Train station and train

Castle:

Castle

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure:

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island; a generally boring area, but we had to visit it, as it will be going away soon, to be replaced with a Cars-themed land:

Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island

Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

The river and riverboat will also be going away, unfortunately:

Riverboat

Riverboat

Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean

Snack:

Snack

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Video:

It’s a Small World ride:

It's a Small World ride

It's a Small World ride

The traditional picture of the massive New Zealand representation:

It's a Small World ride

Tron Lightcycle Run ride:

Tron Lightcycle Run ride

Tron lightcycle run

Video:

Snack:

Snack

Carousel of Progress ride:

Carousel of Progress

Carousel of Progress

A new activity is making a custom tiara from a selection of frame styles and crystal colors, which Jenn did:

Custom tiara

Custom tiara

Jenn with her new tiara:

Jenn with her new tiara

Haunted Mansion ride:

Haunted Mansion

No one poses like Gaston:

No one poses like Gaston

We had dinner at the Be Our Guest restaurant on Valentine’s Day:

Be Our Guest entrance

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Castle

Disney World: Epcot

We visited Epcot within Disney World.

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Chalk art:

Chalk art

Chalk art

During the Festival of the Arts they have special food booths, and some dishes to collect stamps for a prize, which Jenn enjoys doing. Here are all of the things we ate as part of that:

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

The prize last year was a plastic glass that Jenn still uses; the one this year was a rather unpleasant rice cake thing (at top, on the collection booklet); disappointing:

Food

Another collection thing that Jenn did was the World Traveler Passport, where she got a stamp and handwritten message from each of the world pavilions, from someone from each country:

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

Mexico pavilion:

Mexico pavilon

Mexican duck

Frozen ride:

Frozen ride

Frozen ride

Frozen ride

Character

Germany pavilion:

Germany pavilon

Italy pavilion:

Italy pavilon

Japan pavilion:

Japan pavilon

Morocco pavilion:

Morocco pavilon

United Kingdom pavilion:

United Kingdom pavilon

Living with the Land ride:

Living with the Land ride

Living with the Land ride

Living with the Land ride

Living with the Land ride

Paint by numbers:

Paint by numbers

Flowers:

Flowers

Guardians of the Galaxy ride:

Guardians of the Galaxy ride

Spaceship Earth ride:

Spaceship Earth ride

Spaceship Earth ride

Spaceship Earth ride

Spaceship Earth ride

A custom video based on our answers:

Journey of Water:

Journey of Water

Journey of Water

Epcot

Disney World: Hollywood Studios After Dark

We enjoyed the Magic Kingdom After Dark so much that we booked a couple more, starting with Hollywood Studios After Dark.

Entrance

We had to experience Muppet-Vision 3D one last time — it will be shutting down in June 2025 and replaced with a Monsters, Inc land:

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet area

Dinner in Galaxy’s Edge:

Dinner in Galaxy's Edge

Smuggler’s Run ride:

Smuggler's Run ride

Smuggler's Run ride

We got to be pilots, for the first time; we’ve been engineers and gunners in the past:

Smuggler's Run ride

Smuggler's Run ride

Galaxy’s Edge:

Galaxy's Edge

Blue milk:

Blue milk

Galaxy's Edge

Rise of the Resistance ride:

Rise of the Resistance ride

Rise of the Resistance

Rise of the Resistance

Rise of the Resistance

Toy Story Land:

Toy Story Land

Alien Swirling Saucers ride:

Alien Swirling Saucers

Alien Swirling Saucers

Toy Story Land

Slinky Dog Dash ride:

Slinky Dog Dash ride

Slinky Dog Dash ride

We enjoyed free Mickey bar ice cream:

Mickey bar ice cream

Toy Story Mania ride:

Toy Story Mania ride

Toy Story Mania ride

Toy Story Mania ride

Toy Story Land

Runaway Railway ride:

Runaway Railway ride

Star Tours ride:

Star Tours ride

Sunset Boulevard:

Sunset Boulevard

Rock’n’Roller Coaster ride (did not enjoy this one; very rough):

Rock'n'Roller Coaster

Rock'n'Roller Coaster ride

Tower of Terror ride:

Tower of Terror

Tower of Terror

Video:

We did all of the rides that were open during the special event, even ones we normally skip (like Star Tours and Rock’n’Roller Coaster).

Hollywood Boulevard:

Hollywood Boulevard

A fun night.

Disney World: Hollywood Studios

We also visited Hollywood Studios in Disney World.

Entrance

Main street

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area:

Stormtroopers

Oga’s Cantina for lunch:

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Posed photo

Posed photo

Galaxy's Edge

Galaxy's Edge

Galaxy's Edge

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride:

Galaxy's Edge

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Toy Story Land:

Toy Story Land

Spinning Saucers ride:

Spinning Saucers ride

Slinky Dog Dash ride:

Slinky Dog Dash

Toy soldiers drummers:

Toy solders drummers

Some food:

Snack

Toy Story Land

Toy Story Land

Toy Story Mania scores:

Toy Story Mania scores

Hollywood Tower of Terror ride:

Hollywood Tower of Terror

Hollywood Tower of Terror

A video:

Pandora store for a couple of charms for Jenn:

Pandora store for a couple of charms for Jenn

The Brown Derby for dinner:

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

Disney World: Magic Kingdom After Dark

After spending several hours at Animal Kingdom, we went back to our coach to rest for a few hours, then headed out again to Magic Kingdom, for a special “After Dark” visit, where we (and hundreds of others) could enjoy the park after closing hours, with pretty much no lines for any of the rides, and “free” popcorn, ice cream, and beverages.

We timed our arrival well, and with some help from the ferry boat skipper going extra slow, we were able to see the early evening fireworks from the boat:

Fireworks from ferry boat

Fireworks from ferry boat

A posed photo in front of the castle:

Posed photo in front of the castle

Side of the castle:

Castle

Little Mermaid ride:

Little Mermaid ride

“The backside of water” on the Jungle Cruise ride:

The backside of water on the Jungle Cruise ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Riverboat and castle:

Riverboat and castle

Haunted Mansion ride:

Haunted Mansion ride

Haunted Mansion ride

An amusing Haunted Mansion pic:

Amusing Haunted Mansion

Castle selfie:

Castle selfie

Later fireworks and light show:

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Teacups ride, with Jenn’s giggles:

Teacups ride

Peoplemover ride:

Peoplemover ride

Space Mountain ride:

Space Mountain ride

Tron ride:

Tron ride

Tron ride

A video with us:

Heading out, with a mostly empty Main Street:

Mostly empty Main Street

A magical experience.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground

We stayed at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground within Walt Disney World, Florida. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A magical campground within the Disney World bubble.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2025-02-09
  • Check out: 2025-02-16
  • 7 nights

Weather:

  • Partly cloudy
  • High temps 79-87°F, lows 59-66°F
  • Little wind, gusts to 20 MPH, but sheltered

Noise:

  • A little road noise (including bus on main road)
  • No train horn noise
  • A little neighbor noise (kids)
  • Fireworks most nights

Site:

  • #555, back-in, concrete
  • Needed to disconnect toad, parked beside coach
  • Level site; used hydraulic leveling
  • Concrete driveway about 55 feet long by 25 feet wide
  • 30 feet to neighbors on both sides
  • Trees between sites
  • Picnic table
  • Fire pit
  • Tall trees
  • Clean site
  • Elevation 100 feet, front facing West

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, conveniently located
  • 75 PSI water, conveniently located
  • Good sewer connection, very conveniently located (2 2-foot pipes needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • T-Mobile: 230-300 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up, 15-35 ms ping
  • AT&T: 155 Mbps down, 32-55 Mbps up, 60 ms ping
  • Verizon: 5 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up, 35 ms ping
  • Starlink: not used
  • Campground Wi-Fi: not used

Amenities:

  • Pools
  • Garbage bin near site
  • Golf cart rental
  • Boats and buses to Disney World parks

See our previous stay here for our review on Campground Reviews.

Campground map:

Map

Another map:

Map

An interactive map:

Our site, with our rental golf cart out front:

Our site

Our site

Not quite as long as the site we had last time, but there was room to hang off the back of the pad:

Our site

Our site

Convenient utilities:

Utilities

We rented a golf cart, and decorated it a bit to be festive, and to be able to identify it in golf parking lots:

Golf cart

Solar-rechargeable lights at night:

Golf cart

Other nearby sites in our loop:

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

A squirrel trying to get into a box left on a neighbor site:

Squirrel

Horse-drawn carriage ride:

Horse-drawn carriage

A bus stop near our loop, that we used to pick up our golf cart:

Bus stop near our loop

We could have used the shuttle bus to get from one end of the campground to the other instead of getting a golf cart, but the cart was more convenient:

Shuttle bus

Playground over the road from our site; not as annoying as the basketball court we had next to us last time:

Playground over the road from our site

Golf cart parking:

Golf cart parking

Meadow Swimmin’ Pool:

Meadow Swimmin' Pool

Meadow Swimmin' Pool

Meadow Snack Bar near the pool:

Meadow Snack Bar

Meadow Trading Post:

Meadow Trading Post

Definitely the best place to stay when visiting Disney World.

Travel from Clermont to Disney World, Florida

We drove our coach just 48 miles, about one hour of driving, from Clermont to Disney World, Florida.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading in a deliberately long route, to kill time before check-in time:

Route

An interactive map:

Checking out of TTO; unusual to need to check out, but at TTO one needs to hand in the site number tags:

Checking out

Leaving TTO:

Leaving TTO

Clermont water tower:

Clermont water tower

An idiot driving with a flat tire, practically falling off:

Driving with a flat tire

Driving with a flat tire

Going through a toll plaza, entering Florida’s Turnpike:

Toll plaza

Florida’s Turnpike:

Florida's Turnpike

We stopped at Turkey Lake Service Plaza for lunch, and to kill some time:

Turkey Lake Service Plaza

Turkey Lake Service Plaza

KFC for lunch:

KFC for lunch

A trailer staging area in the service plaza, which we could have used if the truck/RV parking was full:

Trailer staging area

Toll plaza when leaving the turnpike:

Toll plaza

Exit to Disney:

Exit to Disney

Entering Walt Disney World:

Entering Walt Disney World

Entering Walt Disney World

Exit to Fort Wilderness:

Exit to Fort Wilderness

Passing by Magic Kingdom parking:

Passing by Magic Kingdom parking

Entering Fort Wilderness:

Entering Fort Wilderness

Fort Wilderness security gate:

Fort Wilderness security gate

Fort Wilderness Reception Outpost:

Fort Wilderness Reception Outpost

Unhitching area, where we untoaded:

Unhitching area

Kennedy Space Center

We visited the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Merritt Island (by Cape Canaveral) on the coast of Florida.

An interactive map of the area:

Selfie:

Selfie

Orbit Cafe:

Orbit Cafe

Orbit Cafe

Atlantis Space Shuttle building, with the booster rockets and fuel tank out front:

Atlantis Space Shuttle

The shuttle is suspended in the air:

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle

Space suit

Engine

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Space toilet:

Space toilet

Space bed:

Space bed

Challenger and Columbia memorial:

Challenger and Columbia memorial

Challenger and Columbia memorial

Shuttles:

Shuttles

Astrovan:

Astrovan

Bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center:

Bus tours

Rocket:

Rocket

Vertical assembly building:

Vertical assembly building

Saturn control room:

Saturn control room

Saturn control room

Saturn control room

Saturn V rocket:

Saturn V rocket

Saturn V rocket

Saturn V rocket

Saturn V rocket

Space suits:

Space suits

Capsule:

Capsule

Rocket garden:

Rocket garden

Green-screen pic:

Kennedy Space Center

An interesting place to visit, at least once. We probably won’t visit again, though.